To find out more details about the transfer to The Open University see A New Chapter for OCA.
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The motivations for my becoming the OCA student representative for Equality and Diversity are deeply embedded in my personal experiences of racial and social class based injustices. I felt that this personal context was important to illustrate my interest and commitment to the role. But equally I wanted to add a real life dimension to the discussion on equality and diversity.
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In bricks and mortar universities students aren’t required to fully organise their own exhibition and I was envious of this at one stage. Having come out the other side I see how this experience has benefited me: knowledge, confidence and an extended network of contacts for the future. As the Arts Development Officer at the council said “We know about you now…” – opportunities will arise.
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The nerves and excitement I expected to feel as the exhibition approached were not as I predicted. I was constantly holding my breath, selfishly hoping I wouldn’t need to self-isolate or be placed in a local lockdown before the hanging day. Nerves with regards to the actual exhibition layout or success, seemed insignificant in comparison. Fortunately, hanging day arrived without any hiccups and passed calmly.
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Galleries are full of the young and unblemished and older people have been relegated to the crone or grandmother status for women and scholars and prophets for the men (simplified I know) but so few, ordinary older people are painted in a direct and straightforward way without the need to make them seem vulnerable or sad.
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During covid lockdown I’ve been so grateful I have a studio space at home. I was reflecting how my OCA students use their homes as studios. I asked a number of printmaking students to reflect and share how they made printmaking spaces within their homes.
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Exploring Media is the long-awaited new stage two painting course for all students on the painting pathway. The majority of the course was developed by lead author Hayley Lock, but this course is unique in that it was also shaped by current stage two students through our bi-monthly studio meetings last year.
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Sally, the absolute antithesis of a ‘sissy’, Sally, a woman with chutzpah, who had just been diagnosed with a recurrence of her breast cancer and who, when I finally decided to grasp the nettle and face my own mental discomforts, was more than happy to become my exemplar of the naked post-menopausal: “Invisible Woman made Visible”.
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As Programme Leader for both the painting and drawing degree pathways I am very pleased to present the finissage of the painting and drawing ecology group’s recent group work, led by artist and tutor Lydia Halcrow.
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A chat with Arlene Sharp, Emma Drye and Therese Livonne about digital assessment
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We are very honoured to have the excellent artist and influential curator Simon Carter taking over our instagram account over the weekend of 29/ 30 August.
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